TIP OF THE WEEK

There are many factors that influence when a child reaches certain developmental milestones. Use this timeline to know what to expect in the first year.

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Today may very well be the last day that Charlie sleeps in a crib. We’re moving him to a “big boy bed,” which was just delivered yesterday.

He’s thrilled. I’m sad.

He’s such a peanut still, at 2 ½ years old. I hope we’re not rushing him out of his crib too soon, but with just three months to go until the baby’s due, we wanted to give him plenty of transition time before he’s booted from the crib for good. So far, he couldn’t be happier about his new arrangement. I’m just not sure that I’m ready for this.

Moving Charlie out of his crib feels like we’re officially declaring his babyhood over. I’m having a hard time envisioning Charlie not being our baby boy anymore. I can hardly even fathom another baby boy, one who’s not Charlie….our Charlie, who still curls up with me in the rocking chair to read stories, stroking my arm with his soft baby hands while I read to him. Charlie, who’s only use for his big boy undies is to wear them over his pants and diaper like some sort of superhero costume. Our Charlie, who, despite his half-pint size likes to tell me, “Mommy, I'm a bewwy, bewwy big boy.”

I’m a little nervous about the big boy bed situation because we decided to get a bunk bed to make room for three kids in our house. I’m already having visions of my superhero boy taking a flying leap from Julia's perch on the top, fully expecting to soar. Plus, it’s also kind of nice to put Charlie in his crib at night and know that he’ll stay there all night. I can already hear the pitter patter of little feet running into our room five times a night.

Mostly, I’m just going to miss seeing Charlie’s tiny little pajama-clad body all curled up in his crib. I’ll miss him standing at the foot of the crib every morning, sing-songing at the top of his lungs: “Mommy, Daddy, I’m awake! The sun is up! Come get me!” Or, some days: “Daddy, Mommy, I’m awake! Come get me! My sun is up!” As if the sun shines just for him. (Which, of course, it does.)

First night in the big boy bed

A report from our first night: a total bust. After several hours of Charlie getting in and out of bed, we finally gave up and put him in his crib, where he promptly fell asleep. The next morning, he asked: “Do we get to keep the bunk bed forever and for always?” and when we said “Yes,” he jumped up and down yelling “Yay!” But, when we asked: “Charlie, why didn’t you sleep in the bunk bed last night?” He replied: “My cwib is cozier. I think I will just sleep in my cwib.”

It looks like my baby boy isn’t going anywhere fast. Phew.

Join FitPregnancy.com's Managing Editor Dana Rousmaniere each week as she blogs about her third pregnancy.